Coordinated School Health Program Model – Working Together for a Healthy Community

Improving the health and wellbeing of a school population and its environment is a challenge faced by many school nurses working within the public school system. The CDC strongly supports the use of a coordinated school health program (CSHP) model that consists of eight integrative components to support, improve and maintain the health and well being of young people. A brief description of the model and its eight components will be presented. The community/family component of this model is often neglected by school nurses for a variety of reasons. This presentation will describe the evolution, development and implementation of a coordinated school health program within an urban elementary school located in an increasingly troubled and diverse neighborhood in the Northeastern USA. Information will be provided on how school and community programs and an academic partnership were woven together to address the health needs of students and their families within this community and to extend the efforts of the school nurse to improve the health and wellbeing of the students.

Challenges of meeting the needs of a diverse student and community membership will be discussed. A description of the successful outcomes achieved through the development of a school community/academic partnership will be given.